Apparatus for making chains



April 17, 1928.

A. G. HEINLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING CHAINS Filed July 23. 1924 aSheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. HEINLE, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A8SIGNOR-OI' THREE-EIGHTHSTO THOMAS A. MCQUAIDE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR Application filed .Tu1y23,

The present invention relates to chain making, and more particularly tothe making of the relatively heavy links for anchor chains, towingchains, and the like. Such links usually weigh from 80 to 100 pounds.and have a length of from to inches, and because of their relativelygreat weight and size as compared with the links of ordinary chains, ithas not been possible to adapt the usual chain making machines to theirmanufacture. Heretofore it has been customary to form open links of thischaracter by hand methods, and then to interconnect the links and hammerand weld their ends together to 5 complete the chain. Such methods areslow and laborious, and hence relatively costly. In accordance with thepresent invention, the individual links are made from bar stock bycooperating forming and bending dies, each link, as it is formed. beingsimultaneously permanently connected to another pre viously formed link.By this method it is possible to make the links much more expeditiouslythan by the present hand methods, and at a greatly reduced cost. becauseof the increased output and reduction in the amount oi labor required.Furthermore, a better and more uniform product results from this methodof manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a preferred form of link-formingapparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line IIIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view, on a larger scale, showing the final positionof the bending dies in forming a link;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a completed link;

Figure 6 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of a bending die and ofits connectionto the die plunger;

Figures 7 8, 9 and 10 are plan views, more or less diagrammatic, of theapparatus, illustrating certain steps in the ormation of a link;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a link having a cross-brace or truss-bar forreinforcing the same, and

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are detail views MAKING CHAINS.

1924'. Serial No. 727,651.

showing a modified form of forming die for making the link shown inFigure 11; Figure 12 being a section on the line XIIXII of Figure 13',and Figure 14 being a section on the line XIV'XIV of Figure 13.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the linkformingapp'aratus therein showncomprises a base 2 having longitudinal guides 3 detachably mountedthereon by bolts 4. 'Slidably mounted on the base, between these guides,is a. die plunger 5 operatively connected with the piston 6 of a fluidpressure cylinder 7, whereby the plunger is reciprocated on the base.The guides 3 have their inner longitudinal edges rabbeted to overlap therabbeted longitudinal edges of the plunger, whereby the latter is heldto the base during its reciprocatory movements.

Detachably mounted on the base by bolts 8 is the lower section 9 of aforming die. The upper section 10 of the forming die is detacha'bl-ysecured by a pin 11 to the lower end of a piston-rod 1'2, and has adownwardly ext-endingintegral projection 13 adapted to fit an opening 14in the lower section of the die. The piston rod 12 is connected to apiston 15 working in a fluid pressure cylinder 16, wherebythe uppersection 10 of the forming die is adapted to be raised and lowered. Thecylinder 16' is carried by an arched support 17, the lower ends of whichare secured to the base by bolts 18. The forming die has a peripheralsemi-cylindrical groove 19 formed partly'in its lower section and partlyin its upper section.

Detachably mounted on the base is a templet 20 adapted to be held incorrect position by a series of removable pins 21 inserted in openingsin the base. This templet is provided for cooperation with bending dies22 pivotally connected to the bifurcated forward end ofthe dieplunger'5. Each-bending die carries a roller 23 for cooperation with thetemplet, and a grooved bending roller 24. Each bending die is pivoted tothe plunger by means of a pin 25 and has a tail iece 26 adapted to bereceived in a recess 27 between the outer edge of the plunger and theinner edge of the corresponding guide 3; These recesses are provided bycutting away the inner longitudinal edges oi the guides adjacent theirtorward ends. The end of the tail piece 26- of each bending die isbeveled for straight bar a having its'ends oppositely beveled, asillustrated in Figures 1 and 3, is heated to the proper temperature tofacilitate the bending thereof, and is then placed in the apparatus inthe position shown in Figure l. The bar is supported in this positionupon supports 28 mounted on the base 2, adjacent the ends of the tcmplet20. Fluid is then admitted to the cylinder 7,

. causing the die plunger to move forwardly.

As the plunger moves forwardly, the grooved bending rollers 24 engagethe bar a and bend it into link form in the groove 19, as illustratedinFigures 7 and S. The bending dies are guided during such forwardmovement of the die plunger through the cooperation of the rollers withthe supports 28 and the templet- 20. Grooves are formed in the endportions of the templet to receive the ends of the baras it is bent intothe groove 19.

Fitting in a recess 29 in the bifurcated end of the die plunger is afollower 30 adapted to be held in said recess to move with the plungerby means of a latch 3f pivoted on the plunger. ln Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10this latch is shown as swinging on a vertical axis for convenience ofillustration. Obviously it can be mounted in this manner or to swing ona horizontal axis as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The follower 30cooperates with the forming die to shape one end of the link, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 8. The final position. of the bending dies isshown in Figure 8, and also in the detail view'of Figure 4. It will beseen that the bending rollers 24, in their final position, have bent thebeveled ends of the bar 'into overlapping relation, but that these endsare not perfectly conformed to the forming die.

Mounted for reciprocation in a groove 32 in the lower face of the base 2is a longitudinally extending bar 33. This bar is held in position by ast up 34 engaging the rear end portion of the bar. This bar extendsthrough an opening 35 in the forward end of the base, and the projectingend portion of the bar is surrounded by a coil spring 36 interposedbetween a washer 37 on the end I of the bar and the forward end of thebase.

Adjacent its rear end the bar has an upwardly' extending lug 38 whichextends through a longitudinal slot 39 in the base and into alongitudinal recess 40 in the plunger 5. It will be apparent that thespring 36 tends to maintain the lug 38 in engagement with the forwardend wall of the recess 40. Adjacent its forward end the bar carriesadetachably mounted forming block 41. This block, on the forwardmovement of the die plunger, engages the templet 20 whereby the forwardmovement of the bar 33, under the influence of thespring 36, is

limited.

When the parts have assumed the position shown in Figure 8, fluid isadmitted to the opposite end of the cylinder 7 to retract the dieplunger. After the initial rearward movement of the plunger, a pin 42 isinserted in an opening 43 in the base 2 to hold the follower 30 inengagement with the forming die and the link. Thereafter, the lug 38 isengaged by the forward end wall of the recess 40,whereby continuedrearward movement of the die plunger moves the bar 33 rearwardly,compressing the spring 36. The forming block 41 is thus moved intoengagement with the overlapping beveled ends of the link, and these endsare conformed thereby to the forming die, as illustrated in Figure 9.The pin 42 is then removed from the opening 43 and the die plunger 5again moved forwardly to the position shown in Figure 8, whereupon thelatch 31 is engaged with the follower 30. The die plunger 5 is thenretracted, and as it moves rearwardly, fluid is admitted to the cylinder16 to raise the upper section 10 of the forming die. A crane hook 4.4may then be engaged with the formed link and the same may be carriedthereby to a forge located at a convenient point near the formingapparatus. The link may have its overlapping beveled ends heated to awelding temperature in the forge, and such ends may then be weldedtogether to form a completed link, such as is illustrated in Figure 5.After the link has been completed, it may be moved by the crane hook andplaced in a vertical position in a slot 45 in the base 2, as indicatedin dash lines in Figure2. Previous to this, the upper section 10 of theforming die will have been lowered into engagement with the lowersection 9 thereof. The forming die has a slot- 46 in its rear endregistering with the slot 45 and receiving a portion of the link when inthe dash line position shown in Figure 2. A bar 5 maynow be placed inposition for forming the next link, and the operations described forforming the first link repeated. It will be noted by reference to Figure2 that in placing the bar 7) in position on the supports 28, it isinserted through the previously formed link, so that when the bar 7) isformed into link form. it is permanently united with the previouslyformed link. In like manner each succeeding link is formed andsimultaneously connected to the previously formed and connected links.As successive links are added to the chaimthe crane hook 44 will becorrespondingly raised.

In forming very heavy chains, it is often lilt) desirable to reinforceeach link by a crossbrace or truss-bar 47, as illustrated in Figure 11.In that case, I employ a modified form of forming die. This die is madein upper and lower sections 9 and 10 having the peripheral groove 19formed partly in-each section. The die is provided with a transverseopening 48 to receive the cross-brace 47, this transverse opening beingformed partly in each section of the die. One section of the die isprovided with a plurality of pins 49 adapted to be received in openings50 in the other section of the die, whereby the two sections of the dieare held in proper relation. In forming a braced link with this modifiedform of die, the crossbrace 47 will be placed in the transverse groovein the lower section of the die while the upper section thereof israised, and the latter will then be lowered into position. The link willthen be formed from a bar of stock material in the same manner asdescribed for the unbraced link. As the bar is bent into link form inthe peripheral groove of the forming die, it will be simultaneouslyunited with the cross-brace or truss-bar a7, the latter havingbifurcated or grooved ends to receive the sides of the link.

It will be noted, particularly by reference to Figure 4;, that inbending a bar into link form, one beveled end is positioned above theother, so that when the overlapping beveled ends are welded together,the welded joint is in shear rather than in tension. This is important,as it provides a stronger joint than where the beveled ends areoverlapped in side by side relationship.

WVhile I have shown and described a preferred form of apparatusembodying my invention, it will be understood that changes may be madein the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a fixed forming diehaving a peripheral groove, and unitary means "for bending the bar intolink form in said groove in a single operation.

2. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a fixed forming diehaving a peripheral groove, means for supporting a bar in the plane ofsaid groove, and unitary means for bending said bar into link form insaid groove in a single operation.

3. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove and a link receiving recess for receiving a part ofone link while a second link is being formed, a plunger, means car riedby said plunger for bending a bar into link form in said groove, andmeans for reciprocating said plunger.

4. Apparatus for forming chain links,

comprising a normally fixed forming die having a peripheral groove,means for supporting a bar in the plane of said groove, a plunger, meanscarried by said plunger for bending said bar into link form in saidgroove, and means for reciprocating said plunger.

5. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove and divided along its entire length in the plane ofthe groove, said groove being formed partly in each section of the die,means for bending a bar into link form'in said groove, and means foropening and closing said die.

6. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a fixed forming diehaving a peripheral groove, unitary means for bending a bar into linkform in said groove in a single operation, and forming means forthereafter acting upon the ends of said link.

T. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove and a transverse opening intersecting said groove,said die being divided in the plane of said groove and said groove andtransverse opening being formed partly in each section, means forbending a bar into link form in said groove, and means for opening andclosing said die.

8. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove, a plunger having a bifur- 'ated end, a bending diepivoted to each arm of the bifurcated end or the plunger, each of saidbending dies comprising a grooved bending roller and aguide roller, atemplet for cooperation with said guide rollers, means for supporting abar in the plane of the peripheral groove in the forming die and inposition to be engaged by said bending rollers and bent into link formin said peripheral groove as said plunger is advanced, and means forreciprocating said plunger.

9. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a two-part forming diehaving a peripheral groove formed partly in each )artthereof a lun ermeans carried b said plunger for bending a bar into link form in saidgroove, means for reciprocating said plunger, and operating means foropening and closing said die.

10. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove, a plunger, means carried b said plunger for bending abar into ]in' form in said groove, a templet for cooperation with saidmeans and means for reciprocating said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

11. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove, a plunger, means carried by said plunger for bendinga bar having beveled ends into link form in said groove with saidbeveled ends in overlapping relation, means for reciprocating saidplunger, and means connected with and actuated by said plunger on thereturn stroke thereof for acting 011 said overlapping ends to conformthe latterto said die.

12. Apparatus for forming chain links, comprising a f0 'ming die havinga periph eral groove, a plunger, means carried by said plunger forbending a bar having beveled ends into link form in said groove withsaid beveled ends in overlapping relation, means for reciprocating saidplunger, means actuated by said plunger on the return stroke thereof foracting on said overlapping ends to conform the latter to said die, andmeans movable with the plunger but separable therefrom for cooperationwith the die for holding said link for the action of saidsecondmentioned means.

13. Apparatus for forming chain links comprising a forming die having aperipheral groove, a unitary means for bending a bar about the die intolink form in said groove in a single operation, a reeiprocable frame inwhich the bending means is carried, and forming means yieldably mountedon the carrierv for thereafter acting upon the ends of the link.

14-. A link forming apparatus including abed member, a normally fixedforming die thereon, a reciprocable frame movable about the die havingforming means thereon operable upon movement of the frame in onedirection, end closing means on the frame movable into operativeposition upon reciprocation of the frame in the reverse direction, andmeanscfor reciprocating the frame.

15. A link forming apparatus including a separable forming die having aperipheral groove therein, said die having a cross bar receiving cavityformed between the separable parts thereof, and forming means operableabout the bar.

16. A link forming machine including a bed, a die member mounted on thebed, a reciprocable frame associated with the bed, a pair of pivotallysupported i'neinbers on the frame, each of said members having a pair ofrollers thereon, one of which rollers travels about the die and theother of which is arranged for cooperation with a guiding template, anda ten'iplate on the bed for cooperation with one of the rollers.

17. A. link forming machine including a bed, a die member mounted on thebed, a reciprocable frame having a bifurcated end associated with thebed, flexibly supported bending rolls carried by the bifurcated ends ofthe frame, and .a follower between the bifurcated ends of the carrier.

18. A link forming machine including a bed, a die member mounted on thebed, a reciproeable frame having a bifurcated end associated with thebed, flexibly supported bending rolls carried by the bifurcated ends ofthe frame, a follower between the bifurcated ends of the carrier, and alatch for releasably connecting the follower with the carrier.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT G. HEINLE.

